Congratulations! You’re starting a new job, and you’re so excited you can hardly contain yourself. But you will need to calm your nerves (at least a bit!), so you aren’t overwhelmed by the emotions of that first day.
It’s not surprising that you would be keyed up for your new adventure. There’s a lot to be considered now: fitting into the culture, meeting your co-workers, getting familiar with the workplace—not to mention thinking about the finer points of the new job.
But take heart: millions of new employees have faced these same feelings and have survived to share what they have learned from the experience. Here are a few things you can do to calm your nerves and breeze through those taxing first days:
Get up early
What could be more nerve-wracking than to discover that you’re running late for your first day of work? You don’t want to be starting your day with that kind of anxiety, so set your alarm 30 minutes early and begin that first day without any unnecessary jitters. You’ll get to work a little early, and you’ll impress your supervisor by being ahead of your starting time.
Organize your workspace
Whether you’ll be working in an office or the plant, you’ll probably have a work area to call your own. You’re bound to feel more settled-in once you organize it to your liking.
If you have an email account, set it up with your signature and new job title, record your voicemail message, and you’re now ready to communicate. Check out what your co-workers are doing with their workspaces: are there photos of the family or favorite sports team memorabilia? Take your clues from them, and make your area feel comfortable for you.
Get to know your colleagues
Your comfort level will increase substantially after you get to know a few people. Ask some of them out to lunch or mingle with them in the lunchroom. Ask them questions about their job, and also find out what they enjoy—golf, hobbies, sports teams, etc. All those little things you learn about them become conversation-starters at the next lunch.
Stay confident
Keep reminding yourself that the company had a good reason for hiring you, and you’re going to be an excellent employee. When you find yourself getting frustrated—and you will—do some positive self-talk, and you’ll feel much better. Not only that, but your co-workers and managers will notice that you have a confident demeanor and remain calm under pressure.
Are you ready for that first day at a new job?
We can help you get there. Select Staff is a leading staffing company in Dallas, Texas, specializing in the placement of light industrial, office, clerical, accounting, and finance personnel. If you’re ready for the challenge and excitement, contact the experts at Select Staff today!
